An old soul, wise beyond his years, Pyae Phyo Han, made a huge impact on all who knew him. “Work hard, play hard” was not only his philosophy, it was his way of life. A kind, generous man, he provided well for his family and gave selflessly to others in need. He was a loving husband and adoring father who had many hopes and dreams for his baby daughter. His easy going ways and huge heart will be greatly missed by many.

In 1989, the country of Burma, located in southeast Asia, officially became Republic of the Union of Myanmar, or simply Myanmar. This was a period of political unrest for the country but U Aung Khin and Daw San May OO were anticipating a more joyful event. On September 19 of that year, they welcomed their only child, Pyae Phyo Han. Pyae was born in Yangon, Myanmar but his many aspects of his childhood were not unlike that of many American children at that time. He spent his free time riding bikes, playing with friends and swimming at Inya Lake. Pyae enjoyed hours playing video games – so much, in fact, that he once pawned his bicycle to get money in order to purchase more video games! Pyae was later adopted by Daw Shu Kyi Ide and Mr, Timothy E. Ide.

As a teenager, Pyae was known for his sense of style. He took pride in his appearance and you could be guaranteed that clothing was the newest and latest trend.

When he was 17, major changes were in store for Pyae as he left Yangon for the United States, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pyae began taking college courses while in Philadelphia but he soon found himself ready to move on to bigger and better things. He made the brave decision to move to Michigan where he started his own business, opening sushi bars in various grocery stores, throughout the state.

Life took yet another big turn for Pyae in 2007, when he met the love of his life, May Thu Kyaw. May was studying in Singapore and Pyae was in the US when they met. After dating for two years, the couple was ready to begin their life together. They became husband and wife on July 2, 2009 in a ceremony in Yangon, Myanmar.

On February 12, 2016, Pyae and May welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Hsaung-Yoon May Han into their hearts and home. Always the provider and care-taker, it comes as no surprise that fatherhood came naturally to Pyae. He was a devoted and caring father, who doted on his daughter. He delighted in every new milestone and dreamed of all that she would experience and accomplish in her lifetime.

Pyae and May worked hard, managing their sushi bar operations in grocery stores around Michigan, including Detroit, St. Joseph and Kalamazoo. Pyae’s work ethic was evident in the success of his business. However, in keeping with his “Work hard, play hard” philosophy, he also made time to partake in the pleasures life had to offer. He loved to travel and some of his favorite vacations were spent traveling back to Myanmar, notably for the annual water festival, Thingyan, a celebration of the New Year. During this celebration, water was splashed or sprinkled on others as a cleansing ritual welcoming the New Year and signifying blessings and good wishes. Because he loved to watch and play soccer, Pyae would also be sure to take in a soccer game or two when aired on TV and the internet. He was an ardent fan of the national Myanmar team.

Back home in the US, Pyae might be found listening to various genres of music, enjoying TV shows like the X Factor or The Walking Dead or watching Burmese movies and comedies. Ever the fun-loving, kid-at-heart, Pyae never outgrew his love of videos games and continued playing, even as an adult.

Pyae was also active in his Buddhist faith and frequently attended religious ceremonies at monasteries in Lansing, Michigan and Fort Wayne Indiana. True to his generous nature, he made many donations to these monasteries as well as others in the United States and in Myanmar.

His easy-going nature, sense of humor, and generous spirit are what we will remember about Pyae Phyo Han. He accomplished many things in his short life but the most important is the lasting impression he made on the lives of the people around him. He believed that people should live the life that brought them happiness and he was a shining example of that every day. A devoted husband, loving father and true friend, he will be greatly missed.

Pyae Phyo Han, died unexpectedly May 30, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 26. He is survived by his wife, May Thu Kway; daughter, Hsaung-Yoon May Han; parents, U Aung Khin and Daw San May OO; and Daw Shu Kyi Ide and Mr. Timothy E. Ide. Father-in-law,U Than OO; and mother-in-law, Daw Yee Yee Win.

Services will be held at 4 PM on Saturday (Jun. 4) at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler - Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Drive (375-2900), where visitation will begin at 3 PM. Visit Pyae's personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook.